Safety attachment for steam boilers



Sept- 22, 1954 M. cATTAFl, SR.. ETAL 3,149,616

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR STEAM EoTLERs 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1962 M N E INVv a,

Sept 22, 1964 M. cATTAFl, SR.. ETAL 3,149,516

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR STEAM BoTLERs Filed March 1e, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent O 3 149 616 SAFETY ATTACHMENT, FR STEAM EIIJERS Michael Cattani, Sr., 23 Melrose Ave., North Arlington, NJ., and Michael Cattati, 1r., 619 Elm St., Kearny,

' nnen Mar. is, i962, ser. No. isernia s claims. (ci. 12a- 504) One object of this invention is to provide a safety attachment for steam boilers with a controlled :tire such as an oil burner which comprises a novel and improved combination of a low water burner cut-olf and a boiler water feed device in which the ilowing feed water into a boiler removes sediment which may have been deposited and thereby avoids malfunction of the cut-olf device.

A further object of our invention is to provide simple, relatively inexpensive and reliable means for preventing the accumulation of mud or sludge in a low water cutotf switch for domestic oil-red, gas-tired or Stoker burners, involving the directing of the feed water for such boilers around the actuating float of said cut-off switch, so that said feed water carries such accumulation away from the switch, particularly the float thereof, to avoid and accumulation thereof which might prevent the oat from moving downward to a sufficient extent to effectively cutot the oil burner at the proper point.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a steam boiler to which is connected a low water cut-olf switch, including a pipe for directing feed water therethrough, and embodying our invention as a new installation.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical axial sectional view, with parts in elevation, otherwise corresponding to FIGURE 1 but to a larger scale.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View corresponding to FIG- URE 1, but showing a modification in which our invention is applied to an existing installation.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical axial sectional view of the modification of FIGURE 4, on the line 5-5 thereof, but to a larger scale, parts being shown in elevation.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5, in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first considering the embodiment of our invention illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a steam boiler 11 containing water 12. The normal water level in the boiler is illustrated as on the line 13. Said boiler is assumed to be provided with an oil burner or other means of firing, not shown. Threaded into, or otherwiseV secured to the side of the boiler 11 is a casing 14. The point of connection of the casing to the boiler is below the normal water level 13. The axis of the casing 14,modi1ied as compared with those of existing low-water cut-off valves, to embody our invention for new installations, is approximately at what might be called the danger or critical point or elevation for the water level, that is, the elevation below which the water in the boiler may not drop without'endangering the safety of operation.

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The casing 14, here shown threadably connected to the boiler 11, as indicated at 15, desirably has a noncircular or hexagonal portion 16 adapted to receive a wrench or other tool for connecting or disconnecting it from the boiler. The outer or boiler-remote portion of the casing 14, which may be a casting, is formed, as by coring, with a hollow part having an annular port or channel 17, opening in a direction away from the boiler. From said channel, orices 18 and 19 extend and are respectively directed inwardly and diagonally toward the boiler. Thus the orifices 18 may be directed diagonally inward and toward the boiler, that is, along the interior of the casing 14, while the orifices 19 may be directed radially inward as illustrated.

A pipe 21 is connected, as by threading, to the casing 14 so that it opens into the annular channel 17, as illustrated most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3. Said pipe 21 is connected to a suitable source of feed water, such as the domestic water supply, not shown, and controlled by a valve which may be of conventional construction, hand operated or automatic type, and which is likewise not shown.

Secured to the outer end of the casing 14 is a switch mechanism, generally designated 22, to upon being opened cuts olf the fuel supply to the oil burner or other re for the boiler 11 when the level of the water therein drops below the danger level, which is approximately at the axis of the casing 14. This switch mechanism 22 is enclosed in a housing 23 secured, with an intervening gasket 20, as by means of bolts or the like 24 to the casing 14. The actuating member or float 25 of this mechanism protrudes into the casing 14 through the channeled portion thereof to a position near the boiler 11, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The actuating iioat 25 is connected to the switch mechanism 22 by conventional means, such as a shaft 26 which passes through a water-tight flexible device, such as a metallic bellows 27 by which the float is pivotally mounted at one end in the hollow part of the casing. Said lloat 25 thus holds the switch mechanism 22 closed to keep the re going through a controlling cable 28 or the like. Assuming the control thermostat (not shown), of the burner or lire, is calling for heat, the re will be kept going under normal conditions. However, if and when the water level drops, so that the float 25 is not held up in the position of FIGURES 2 and 3, that is, supported by the water in the casing 14, the float will swing down or move counterclockwise from the position of FIGURE 2 to open the switch mechanism 22 and stop the operation of the fire, even though the control thermostat thereof, not shown, might be calling for heat.

During the operation of a boiler, solid materials suspended or dissolved in the water therein, tend to gradually settle or precipitate out, eventually resulting, if not otherwise taken care of, in accumulations of material beneath the float at the bottom of the casing 14. When such occurs, even if the water level drops to adanger level or below the axis of the float 25, said float would still be supported but on this material rather than by the water. However, by connecting the feed water pipe 21, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, every time the feed water is turned on to raise the level of water in the boiler, jets of water are directed through the orifices 18 and 19 and carry such deposited sediment or the like out of the casing 14 and into the main portion of the boiler, thereby keeping the float free to operate as intended.

The foregoing disclosure is of an embodiment of our invention adapted for new installations, that is, when the hollow portion 17 to which the feed water is fed is formed integrally with'the casing 14. Although no water gage is here illustrated, yet the boiler, of course, may be provided with a conventional gage. However, if such is not provided, the need for directing water through the pipe 21 to the boiler l1 is indicated by the cutting off of the fire upon the dropping of the oat 2S to open the switch mechanism 22. Such an event shows that it is vnecessary to replenish the water in the boiler until the so such an event would also have to be considered.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in FGURES 4 to 7, inclusive, there is shown a steam boiler 11a containing water 12a, indicated on the gage29. This gage is a glass tube extending between generally horizontal pipes 3l and 32. These pipes respectively connect with .a boiler 11a above the normal and critical water levels and below said water levels. The gage 29, if desired, may be cut off from the boiler 11a for replacement or cleaning, as by means of valves 33 and 34. The water level in the boiler is indicated by the top of the water column in the gage 29. Said boiler, as in the previous embodiment, is presumed to be provided with an oil burner or other means of firing, not shown. The parts heretofore described in connection with the present embodiment may be conventional.

Connected to the boiler, in this instance by an upper pipe 35 and a lower pipe 36, respectively, through the pipes 3l and 32, is a casing 14a. The axis of the casing Ma is at approximately what might be called the danger or critical point or elevation for the water level. That is, said axis may be at an elevation below which the water in the boiler may not drop without endangering the safety of operation.

Casing 14a., instead of having an outer or boiler remote portion formed with an annular channel, `has instead a separate member or hollow insert 37 connected thereto. Said member 37 may be a casting, formedas by coring or otherwise with an annular port or channel 17a opening in a direction away from casing ida. From said channel, orifices ida and 19a extend and are respectively directed inwardly and diagonally toward the casing 14a. Thus the orifices lila may be directed diagonally inward and toward the casing,'that is, along the interior thereof, and lthe orifices 19a. may be directed radially inward as illustrated.

A pipe 21a is connected as by threading to the hollow part 37, so that it opens into the annular channel 17a, as illustrated most clearly in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. Said pipe 21a is connected to a suitable source of feed water, such as the domestic water supply, not shown, Vand controlled by a valve which may be of conventional construction and which is likewise not shown.

Secured to the open end of said casing ida, that is, the end remote from the points of connection with the `pipes 35 and 36 is a switch mechanism generally designated 22a to cut olf the fuel supply to the oil burner or other fire for theV boiler 11a when the level of the water therein drops below the danger level. Such level is here considered as approximately Von the axis or horizontal center line of the main or upper part of the casing 14a. The switch mechanism 22a is enclosed in a housing 23a secured, with an intervening gasket 20a, as by means of bolts or'the like. Such bolts pass through apertures 4u in the hollow part 37 which register with corresponding apertures in the housing 23a and threaded sockets in the casing Ma. Such bolts may be passed through said registering apertures and threaded into thecasing 14a forrsecuring the associated parts together, with the gasket 2da. between the parts 23a and 37 and a gasket 3S be- Y tween theV parts 37 and lla.V

The switch mechanism 22a is enclosed in the housing 23a and its actuating member or iioat 25a protrudes into the casing Ma through the channeled member 37 to a position near the connections with the pipes 3S and 36. The actuating oat 25ar is connected to the switch mechanism 22a by conventional means such as a shaft 26a which passes through a water-tight flexible device such as a metallic bellows 27a. Said 4float 25a thus normally holds the switch mechanism closed to keep the fire going through a controlling cable 28a or the like.

Assuming the control thermostat, not shown, of the burner or lire calls for heat, the fire will be kept going under normal conditions. However, if and when the float 25a is not in the position of FIGURES 5, 6 and 8, that is, supported by water in the casing 14a, it will swing down or move counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 5, from said position to open the switch mechanism 22a and stop the operation of the fire. Such will take place even though the control thermostat thereof might be calling for heat.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated in FIG- URES 4 to 7, inclusive, operates like the embodiment of FIGURES l, 2 and 3, that is, it prevents solid materials from accumulating under the float 25a to a point where they might hold up the float, even if there were not water thereunder and thereby prevent a cutting off of the lire when the water reached a dangerously low level. When the gage 29 indicates that the boiler needs water, the attendant will direct feed water thereto through the pipe 21a to the channel 17a, from which it is squirted out through the orifices 18a and 19a to thereby remove mud or other solid matter which has accumulated under the float 25a and thereby keep the safety device in working order by preventing the float from being supported on or stuck in an accumulation of sludge or mud, insofar as the float thereof is concerned.

in the present embodiment, however, our invention is applied to an already installed low water level cutoff device by merely sandwiching the hollow part 37 between the casing 14a of such a device and the housing 23a thereof. Thus, the feed water, instead of being directed to the bottom of the boiler, as is conventional, is here directed to said boiler 11a through the channel 17a of the separate member 37,-the orifices lha and 19a, the casing 14a, and pipes 36 and 32. The casing 14a is here shown Vwith a clean-out plug 39 in the lower portion thereof which may serve for removing mud or other solid matter which may have been deposited in the bottom extension 41 of said casing 14a. if the casing 14a originally had a connection to the boiler at the upper right hand portion thereof, as through an aperture 42, illustrated in FGURE 5, said aperture may, in accordancev with our invention, be closed as by a plug 43.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised a safety device for steam boilers which may be combined with the apparatus formerly used for cutting off the fire when the water level in the boiler reaches a dangerously low elevation or which, in the case of existing installations, may be sandwiched between the casing of such a device and the housing of the controlling switch mechanism, so

that feed water may be used for flushing purposes, and directed into said casing in the manner disclosed.

We claim:

1. A safety attachment for a steam boiler, comprising fa casing adapted to be connected` to a boiler at an elevation below the normal boiler water level, low water cutoff switch mechanism mounted on said casing, an actuating float for said mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent one end in said casing, said casing'having a hollow part at one end adjacent the pivoted end of the oat, means forming orifices in said'hollowipart spaced circumferen- 'tially of the pivoted end 'of the oat Vand directed toward said pivoted end of the float, means for connecting a source of feed water to said hollow part to Vdirect the Ywater throughsaid orifices onto said pivoted endV of the float, whereby Yfeed water may be directed under pressure into said casing and flush away sediment which may have been deposited around said float and then flow into the boiler. 2. A safety attachment as recited in claim l, wherein said hollow part has an` annular channel from which the orifices are directed towardv theinterior of said casing.

3. A safety attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein there is a housing for said switch mechanism connected to said end of the casing from which said float protrudes into said casing, and said hollow part of said casing has an annular channel from which the orifices extend.

4. A safety attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the hollow part is formed integral with said casing and there is a channel therein encircling the pivoted end of the oat and from which the orifices extend.

5. A safety attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein said hollow partis separately formed and attached to said casing, and said hollow part has a channel encircling the pivoted end of the iloat and from which said orifices extend.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,547 Carlson Apr. 13, 1937 2,224,190 Loesser Dec. 10, 1940 2,252,962 Carlson Aug. 19, 1941 2,446,778 Mesh Aug. 10, 1948 2,826,919 Klingler Mar. 18, 1958 2,941,712 Cook June 21, 1960 

1. A SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR A STEAM BOILER, COMPRISING A CASING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A BOILER AT AN ELEVATION BELOW THE NORMAL BOILER WATER LEVEL, LOW WATER CUTOFF SWITCH MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID CASING, AN ACTUATING FLOAT FOR SAID MECHANISM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END IN SAID CASING, SAID CASING HAVING A HOLLOW PART AT ONE END ADJACENT THE PIVOTED END OF THE FLOAT, MEANS FORMING ORIFICES IN SAID HOLLOW PART SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE PIVOTED END OF THE FLOAT AND DIRECTED TOWARD SAID PIVOTED END OF THE FLOAT, MEANS FOR CONNECTING A SOURCE OF FEED WATER TO SAID HOLLOW PART TO DIRECT THE WATER THROUGH SAID ORIFICES ONTO SAID PIVOTED END OF THE FLOAT, WHEREBY FEED WATER MAY BE DIRECTED UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID CASING AND FLUSH AWAY SEDIMENT WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED AROUND SAID FLOAT AND THEN FLOW INTO THE BOILER. 